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  Hand and Heart - From their pens...

  Elizabeth Gaskell

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  Elizabeth Stevenson was born in Chelsea in London on 29th September 1810.  
  Both parents embedded their strong Unitarian beliefs into Elizabeth who rebelliously was often reluctant to display these religious convictions.  
  The early death of Elizabeth’s mother saw her sent away to be brought up by her maternal aunt in Knutsford, Cheshire.  
  Her father now remarried but Elizabeth spent most of her childhood in Cheshire away from her father and his new family but was supportive towards her half-siblings.  
  Elizabeth’s aunt encouraged her education and particularly to read and express herself through writing.   
  In 1828, her brother John, who worked in the merchant navy, disappeared on a journey to India. This disastrous loss depressed her father, and she went to his household to nurse him for the next year before he died.  
  In 1832, she fell in love with William Gaskell, a Unitarian minister like her father, and married him.  They settled in Manchester. This booming industrial city had a great impact on Elizabeth who felt the need to speak up for poor workers and their exploitation by large industrial companies. A collection of poems and short stories, ‘Sketches among the Poor’ appeared in 1837, co-authored by her husband.  Her first major work, under a pseudonym, was ‘Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life’ published in 1848. 
  During her career she worked continually with Charles Dickens and published much in his various magazines. With him she published ‘Lizzie Leigh’ in 1850 which dealt with the taboo subject of prostitution.  She was an excellent writer and impressed her many Victorian literary peers. Much of her writing reflects her work as a social critic highlighting the exploitation of the working class and the situation of women in society.  
  On 12th November 1865, Elizabeth Gaskell died in Holybourne, Hampshire, after suffering from a heart attack a month earlier.

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  The General's Will - An emotive...

  Vera Jelihovsky

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  The Ukrainian writer Vera Jelihovsky was born on the 29th April 1835.  At that time Ukraine, or Little Russia as it was also called, was part of the Russian Empire.   
   
  Vera was also the sister of Helena Blavatsky, herself a noted writer and a co-founder of the Theosophical Society. 
   
  As a writer Vera’s works rests mainly on her children’s stories and little of any of her work is known in the West.   
   
  ‘The General’s Will’ is a fascinating story of a dying man who tries, with the writing of a new Will, to right the wrongs his second marriage has caused to the children of his first.   
   
  His scheming second wife attempts to change that.  But will her selfish plan succeed? 
   
  Vera Jelihovsky died on the 17th May 1896.  She was 61.

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  Oedipus at Colonus

  Sophocles

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  Dive into the mesmerizing conclusion of Sophocles' Theban Trilogy with 'Oedipus at Colonus,' a captivating audiobook that stands as a testament to the enduring power of Greek tragedy.In the final chapter of his tumultuous life, Oedipus, once a proud king brought low by fate and his own actions, seeks solace and redemption in the town of Colonus. Blinded and exiled, he embarks on a profound journey toward tranquility, only to find himself once more at the center of earthly and divine conflicts.This audiobook brings Sophocles' timeless text to life with skillful narration, immersing you in Oedipus' poignant quest for peace. Experience the deeply human themes of repentance, forgiveness, and the desire for rest after a life filled with hardship. Observe how Oedipus, in his final hours, grapples with the repercussions of his past, the nature of his present, and the uncertainty of his legacy.'Oedipus at Colonus' is more than a tragic tale—it is a profound exploration of human endurance in the face of suffering, and the possibility of redemption even in the bleakest of circumstances. Whether you're a student of classical literature, a lover of timeless dramas, or an audiobook enthusiast seeking a thought-provoking listen, this rendition of 'Oedipus at Colonus' offers a rich, immersive experience that will resonate long after the final words have been spoken.Step into the world of ancient Greek drama and explore the depths of human resilience and the quest for peace with 'Oedipus at Colonus.' Let this immortal story touch your heart, challenge your perceptions, and leave you with timeless insights into the human condition.

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  Statement of Randolph Carter The...

  H. P. Lovecraft

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  "The Statement of Randolph Carter" is the first person testimony of the titular character, who has been found wandering through swampland in an amnesiac shock. In his statement, Carter attempts to explain the disappearance of his companion, the occultist Harley Warren. Warren has come into the possession of a book, written in an unknown language, the exact contents of which he never revealed to Carter. Carter mentions that Warren has other "strange, rare books on forbidden subjects", several of which are in Arabic. From his mysterious book, Warren apparently deduces that doors or stairways exist between the surface world, and the underworld. He encourages Carter to travel with him to the location of one such portal, an ancient graveyard near Big Cypress Swamp. Upon arriving, Warren locates a particular tomb, and opens it to reveal a staircase that descends into the earth. Taking a lantern, he leaves Carter on the surface, and follows the stairs into the darkness, communicating with his companion by a telephone wire. After several minutes of silence, Warren suddenly begins to make vague, panicked outbursts that culminate in a desperate plea for Carter to flee. Finally, after Warren is silent for several minutes, Carter calls to him down the line, only to hear an alien voice telling him that Warren is dead.

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  Sevastopol Sketches

  Leo Tolstoy

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  In the winter of 1854 Tolstoy, then an officer in the Russian army, arranged to be transferred to the besieged town of Sebastopol. Wishing to see at first hand the action of what would become known as the Crimean War, he was spurred on by a fierce patriotism, but also by an equally fierce desire to alert the authorities to appalling conditions in the army.
  
  The three Sebastopol Sketches - 'December', 'May' and 'August' - re-create what happened during different phases of the siege and its effect on the ordinary men around him. Writing with the truth as his utmost aim, he brought home to Russia's entire literate public the atrocities of war. In doing so, he realized his own vocation as a writer and established his literary reputation.

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  Hunchback of Notre-Dame The...

  Victor Hugo

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  The Hunchback of Notre-Dame or Notre-Dame de Paris is a French Gothic novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1831.
  The story is set in Paris in 1482 during the reign of Louis XI. The gypsy Esmeralda (born as Agnes) captures the hearts of many men, including those of Captain Phoebus and Pierre Gringoire, but especially Quasimodo and his guardian Archdeacon Claude Frollo. Frollo is torn between his obsessive lust for Esmeralda and the rules of Notre Dame Cathedral. He orders Quasimodo to kidnap her, but Quasimodo is captured by Phoebus and his guards, who save Esmeralda. Gringoire, who attempted to help Esmeralda but was knocked out by Quasimodo, is about to be hanged by beggars when Esmeralda saves him by agreeing to marry him for four years.

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